Titcume solo home run gets Australia home over Canada (women)

[Al's Fastball News]

Titcume solo home run gets Australia home over Canada

Australia faced up against Canada in the second match of the
day at the 2008 International Challenge at Blacktown Olympic
Softball Centre.  While Australia is still in the midst of selecting
their 2008 Olympic team for the Beijing Olympics, the Aussie
girls tonight faced a tough Canadian Olympic roster in a tight
game.

Starting pitchers for both teams, Zara Mee (NSW, Australia) and
Danielle Lawrie (Canada) were dominating the opposition hitters
and base hits were a rarity in the first three innings.  Australia
opened the top of the 4th innings with a solo home run from the
Australian catcher, Natalie Titcume (VIC).  Tracey Mosley (QLD)
then followed Titcume’s lead, by driving the ball to the right
field corner for a stand up triple.  Natalie Ward (NSW) and Jodie
Bowering (QLD) were then walked by Canada’s Lawrie to load up
the bases.  Unfortunately for Australia they were unable to capitalize
on the opportunity to score more runs and Canada shutdown the
innings to go into the bottom of the 4th down 1 run to nil.

Canada had a great opportunity in the bottom of the 4th innings
with the first two hitters reaching base however great defense
by Australian stalwarts Natalie Ward and Stacey Porter (NSW)
combined to get the next two hitters without the runners advancing.
 Belinda Wright (NSW) ended the innings with a great catch in
centrefield off an Alison Bradley (Canada) line drive.

Canada shut down Australia in the top half of the 5th innings
and went into the bottom half of the innings with confidence.
 Australian Head Coach, Fabian Barlow (QLD), replaced Zara Mee
on the pitching mound with Felicity Witt (NSW) and Canada capitalized
on the pitching change. Kaleigh Rafter (Canada) hit a stand up
double to left field to start the innings.  In what proved to
be Canada’s only real chance of the game, the Australians lifted
once again to shut them down.  A sensational diving stop by Sandra
Lewis (QLD) at 2nd base for the out at first stopped a sure equalizer.
 Felicity Witt is renowned for her great change of pace and called
on this to strike out the remaining batters to end the innings.

The 6th and 7th innings were again dominated by the pitchers
and the was no change to the score.  Australia were victorious
1 run to nil.  Australia picked up five hits for the game, Titcume
(HR), Mosley (2), Ward (1) and Simone Morrow (1).

The winning pitcher for the game was Zara Mee and the save goes
to Felicity Witt.  Canada’s Danielle Lawrie gets the loss.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Kylie Bloodworth
Softball Australia
Mobile: 0400 909 166

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